Vehicle platform



June 12, 192s. 1,673,671

J. M. GERHARDT VEH I CLE PLATFORM Filed Jan. 5, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 12, 1928.

J. M. GERHARDT` VEHICLE PLATFORM 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Jan. 5, 1927 Patented June 12, 1928.

' UNITED STATES JOHN M. GERHARDT, OF CHARLESTON, ILLINOIS.

VEHICLE PLATFGRM.

Application lcd January 3, 1927.

My invention relates to improvements in luggage carriers t'or automobiles or the like vehicles and it 's an object ot the'inveution to provide an extension platform tor detachabl connection to the projecting end portions ot the side hars of an automobile trame or chassis and capable of attachment to side bars disposed at ditlerent degrees of angularity and diillerent distances apart, as Well as a platliorni supliorted in a manner to permit relative lateral and longitudinal adj ustment ot the same. all as will be hereinafter more particularly described and claimed..

llelerring to the accompanying drawings which are made a part hereotl and on which sh'nilar retcrence characters indicate similar parts,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side eleva-tion illustrating one application ot my invention, Figure 2, a fragmentary top plan view7 Figure 3. a rear elevation ot' my invention, Figure il. a perspective, .Figure 5. a perspective of one of the supporting brackets, and u Figure 6, a section on the line 6--6 of Fig. In the drawings reference character 10 indicates the rear portion of an automobile having a chassis or it `ame terminating at its rear end in tapered. curved extensions 11 :termed at their ends for engagement by spring hangers 12.

invention is designed tor engagement with the rear end portions ot the chassis and l provide a pair ot side brackets designa ted generally by the numeral 13. such brackets including' vertical bracket plates lll oli substantially rectangular outline. The lower edges ott' the bracket plates are curved upwardly at the rear as indicated at 15 and are formed with substantially right angle sses 16 at their forward portions. A plufality ot openings 17 are provided in the brat-.liet platos tor the accommodation oit clamping members and otheropenings 17 are provided for the attachment o1' a bumper.

The upper edges ot the bracket plates are provided with inwardly extending right angular lianges 18 adapted to be disposed in substantially horizontal position and being also provided with a transversely eX- tending slot 19 adjacent each end. A dat, substantially rectangular cross plate 2O is adapted to have its ends supported upon the tlange's 18 ot the brackets and such plate Serial No. 158,755.

is provided with transverse slots 21 disposed at right angles to the slots 19 in the lu'acket and in registration therewith. Any desired 'liaseniifig means such as bolts 22 may be employed for fastening the plate 20 to the brackets.

The plate 20 is preferably provided With openiiigs 23 arranged inwardly ot its ends tor the accommodation of fastening means for securing a trunk or the like thereon. The bracket plates or brackets are secured in vertical position to the rear trame extensions ot the vehicle by means ot' U-bolts 24 or the like which extend through two ot the openings 17. On account of the location ot the holes 17 a varied adjustment of the brackets and plate 20 is provided.

On account ot the particular construction ot' my device it may be applied to various makes ot automobiles being adaptable to slight variations in form and spacing ot the rear trame extensions. A bumper 24 is shown 'connected to the bracket and thus my device serves both as a bumper support and for supporting trunks or other baggage used for various purposes.

It Will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in my device without departing from the spirit of the invention, and l, therefore, do not limit myself to what is shown in the dravvings and described in the specilieation, but only as set torth in the appended claims.

Having thus fully set forth my said invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A luggage carrier for vehicles comprising a pair of bracket-s for attachment to the end portions of the side frame members each bracket including a plate having a supporting flange at its upper edge, and a cross plate having its ends resting upon said flanges and forming a platform, the flanges and ends oit the cross plate being' provided with slots extending along intersecting lines to provide for relative lateral and longitudinal adjustment of the plate and bracket-s, substantially as set torti.

2. A carrier attachment for vehicles comprising a pair ol" brackets tor attachment upon the end portions ot the side frame members ot a vehicle each including a plate having a supporting liange at its upper edge1 a cross plate resting upon said flanges, the flanges being formed with transversely eX- tending slots, the cross plate being provided with slots disposed substantially at right angles to the slots of the langes, and bolts extending through said intersecting slots and permitting relative lateral and longitudinal adjustment of the brackets and cross plate, substantially as set forth.

3. A carrier attachment for vehicles comprising a pair of brackets for attachment on the end extensions of the side frame members of a vehicle each including a plate having a supporting flange at its upper edge, a cross plate supported upon said flanges and forming a platform, means for secur ing the cross plate to the langes, each bracket being provided With pairs of upper and lower openings, the openings of the upper and lower pairs being relatively laterally ollset whereby one ol the openings of one pair Will be vertically opposite the noncorresponding opening of the other pair and the corresponding openings of the two pairs will be obliquely opposite each other topmvide for the insertion of spaced Shanks of the U-bolt with the bolt in a vertical or inclined position to provide for attachment of the bracket plate to frame bars having var ving linear contour, substantially as set forth.

4. A luggage carrier for automobiles comprising a pair of brackets having supporting flanges, means for securing said brackets to the projecting end portions of the automobile frame and capable of attachment to projecting end portions arranged at various degrees of angularity, a platform supported on said brackets and means for fastening the platform to the flanges, constructed and arranged to permit lateral and longitudinal adjustment of the platform as a whole with respect to the brackets, substantially set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix mv signature.

JOHN M. GERHARDT. 

